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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
After Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball go 1-2, what will the Boston Celtics do? Will they select Kansas forward Josh Jackson or go with the man to the left, Duke's Jayson Tatum? (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
Tatum is such an intriguing prospect because he can score from any part of the floor, has the ability to take over games and has a non-stop motor. He might be the wing scorer the Boston Celtics need, and would be a massive upgrade over Jae Crowder in that department. If he doesn't end up in Beantown, the fans in the desert will eat Tatum up if he goes No. 4 to the Phoenix Suns, where he can form what would be a dynamic partnership with guard Devin Booker and power forward Marquese Chriss. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
As far as upside goes, Florida State's Jonathan Isaac might have the most of it, as the 6-10 small forward combines his skills with finishing at the basket with a decent jump shot (34.8% from three last season) and incredible length. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
The length that Isaac possesses means he has the chance to be one of the best two-way players in the league in the upcoming few years. He probably won't fall further than seventh in the draft, where the Minnesota Timberwolves draft. The Bronx-born Isaac could end up staying in Florida as well, with the Orlando Magic selecting at No. 6. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
NC State didn't have a great season, but that didn't hurt the draft stock of Dennis Smith in his one season in Raleigh. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
Smith impressed by showing all of his talent last season, especially since he missed his senior year of high school due to a torn ACL. With the Knicks (No. 8 selection) and Mavericks (No. 9) in desperate need of a point guard, expect Smith to go in the top 10. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
It's more than likely that the next guard based in the U.S. that gets selected after Smith will be another ACC standout, Louisville's Donovan Mitchell. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
Mitchell stepped up his scoring from his freshman season in 2015-16, as he averaged 19.3 points per game last season in becoming Rick Pitino's go-to guy in Louisville. His shooting numbers dropped considerably from his freshman season, though playing with more talented players in the NBA should right that. It's reported that the Charlotte Hornets are locked in on Mitchell at No. 11, where he would be paired with Kemba Walker to form a dynamic small-ball backcourt. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
Duke guard Luke Kennard was supposed to be a role player this past season, with players like Grayson Allen, Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum running the show in Durham...(Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
But because of injuries to Giles and Tatum before last season got underway, Kennard emerged as Duke's best player, which shot up his draft stock. His consistent long-range shooting will be a perfect fit with a lot of teams' wants, though questions about his perimeter defense will cause others to pause. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
Wake Forest head coach Danny Manning was a great post player, especially when he was in college at Kansas. What he learned as a college and pro player was imparted to his pupil, John Collins (r.), and Collins responded with a First Team All-ACC campaign in 2016-17. He was a double-double machine, as he had 17 of those last season. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
Just two years ago, Creighton 7-footer Justin Patton was an unknown talent who was getting ready to redshirt in his first season in Omaha...(Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Lottery Prospects
...What a difference two years makes! After his redshirt year, Patton was unleashed upon an unsuspecting Big East Conference, where he won the league's Freshman of the Year. His array of offensive talents - including range to the NBA three-point line - made scouts drool, and we saw firsthand in a game at St. John's in January the skills that he possesses: 25 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists 1-1 on threes. He still has a wiry frame, allowing bigger post men to bully him, which means he definitely needs to put on muscle while in the league. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Other 1st Round Prospects
Probably the person who benefitted the most by staying in school was North Carolina swingman Justin Jackson, who improved his perimeter jumper while leading the Tar Heels to a national championship. He's as much of a "plug-and-play" person as anyone is in the NBA Draft. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Other 1st Round Prospects
It was a down year for Texas, but not as much for big man Jarrett Allen, as his freshman season saw lots of highlight-type dunks. Outside of dunks, he has better-than-advertised low post game. He might have the most potential of all the big men in this year's class. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: Other 1st Round Prospects
If Ivan Rabb left last year, he might have been a lottery pick because of his excellent shooting while possessing great height (6-10) and length. A so-so season this past campaign at Cal hurt his draft stock, but his potential is high, so much so that his name should be called in the first round. (Photo by Yasmin Vahdatpour) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 1st-2nd Round Prospects
While he was stuck playing behind other established big men in Chapel Hill, Tony Bradley (5) held his own when he played, and he's now put himself in a position where he might hear his name called in the first round. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 1st-2nd Round Prospects
There was no better big man in the 2017 NCAA Tournament in terms of his production than Jordan Bell, who was putting up numbers that only players like Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal were putting up in the Tournament. He grabbed at least 12 rebounds in all five of his 2017 NCAA Tournament games, including a 13-point, 16-rebound game against Gonzaga in the national semifinals. His offensive game is limited, but his rebounding skills and motor remind us of Kenneth Faried, and he's had a pretty decent NBA career. (Photo by Yasmin Vahdatpour) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 1st-2nd Round Prospects
Colorado guard Derrick White might have come the furthest in his college career to get to this point. As a high school senior, he was just 6-0 and 150 pounds, with his only scholarship offers coming from a junior college in Wyoming and a D-II school in Colorado Springs. Three years later, after growing five inches and becoming a D-II All-American, he transferred to the University of Colorado. In one season in Boulder, he was one of the Pac 12's best players, and he then impressed at the Portsmouth (VA) Invitational to put himself in a position where he might be a first-round selection. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 1st-2nd Round Prospects
The 2017 Big Ten Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American, Purdue big man Caleb Swanigan will enter the NBA after a historic season? How historic? Last season, Swanigan became just the second D-1 player in the last 25 seasons to average at least 18 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists per game. The other? Tim Duncan. Ever heard of him? Though athleticism is a big question Swanigan has to improve on, there's no reason he can't be an instant contributor to an NBA team from Day One. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 1st-2nd Round Prospects
Syracuse forward Tyler Lydon first really garnered attention as a potential NBA first-round pick after his two wonderful Midwest Regional games in the 2016 NCAA Tournament. Though he didn't shine on offense (15 combined points in two games), it was his defense that helped the Orange to the Final Four, where he blocked six shots against Gonzaga - and future lottery pick Domantas Sabonis - in the Sweet 16 game and five more against Virginia in the Elite Eight. His accurate three-point shooting (39.8% career 3-PT%) packed in a 6-9 frame will make him a valuable spread PF on an NBA team. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
Returning to school for this past season proved to be a double-edged sword for Oregon guard Dillon Brooks. Last season, we saw time and again that he was one of the best clutch shooters in college basketball. However, staying an extra year caused scouts to pause in using a first-round pick, as his athleticism and defense was called into question. Even so, expect Brooks to become another Canadian who has a significant impact on an NBA team. (Photo by Yasmin Vahdatpour) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
While Jonathan Isaac gets much more attention from NBA scouts, it was fellow Seminole Dwayne Bacon (l.) who led Florida State in scoring last season, averaging 17.2 points per game and garnering a Second Team All-ACC spot. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
There's always one second-round pick that makes an immediate impact in his rookie season in the NBA, and we believe Villanova's Josh Hart will be the one for the upcoming season. He's a winner, as evidenced by the two Big East Tournament titles and the memorable NCAA Tournament title that he was a part of in 2016 for the Wildcats. While his skills aren't up to par as those who will be taken in the lottery, he's as ready to play in the league as any other guard in this class. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
Duke took off late last season when Frank Jackson was inserted in the starting lineup and provided wonderful defense on the perimeter for the Blue Devils. He'll do the same in the league, though his offense and playmaking is still a question mark. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
The run by the Oregon Ducks to the Final Four in April really helped the draft stock of guard Tyler Dorsey, who averaged 24.5 points and shot 65% from three in the four games Oregon won in the NCAA Tournament. It could end up being another banner day for the Ducks, who will probably have three players selected in the NBA Draft. (Photo by Yasmin Vahdatpour) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
Speaking of players whose stock rose during a Final Four run, the same can be said for South Carolina guard PJ Dozier, who scored in double figures in all five Gamecock games in the NCAA Tournament. He could have been better served staying for his junior year, but decided to strike while the iron was hot. (Photo by Mario Parham/The Rebel Walk) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
South Carolina wouldn't have had a sniff of the Final Four if it wasn't for the play of the Southeastern Conference's Player of the Year in 2017, guard Sindarius Thornwell. His long-range shooting won't wow many, but he is a relentless penetrator, heads to the free throw line in droves and is an excellent perimeter defender. He's almost a mirror image of Lance Stephenson. (Photo by Mario Parham/The Rebel Walk) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
North Carolina used its size to beat teams down to submission on its way to a championship last season, with the skilled Isaiah Hicks leading the way. He certainly will add frontcourt depth to whichever team drafts him. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
There was no doubt that Jaron Blossomgame was one of the best players in the ACC the past couple of years, despite Clemson finishing in the lower half of the league. Like Trevor Booker and K.J. McDaniels before him, Blossomgame is going to be another former Clemson Tiger that carves a niche for a few years in the league, with his athleticism being his biggest strength. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
Charles Cooke was one of the stabilizing forces for the Dayton Flyers the couple of seasons after his transfer from James Madison. In his two years in Dayton, the 6-5 guard averaged almost 16 points and over rebounds per contest. He can penetrate and hit from deep, and those skills, plus his perimeter defense, gives him a shot at getting drafted and/or making an NBA roster. (Photo by Robert Cole) -
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2017 NBA Draft: 2nd Round Prospects
Every time we got a chance to watch Notre Dame forward VJ Beachem, we came away more impressed, especially because of his length and his ability to hit the three ball (40% career three-point shooter). He is worth a flyer late in the second round. (Photo by Robert Cole)
BROOKLYN — Tonight’s 2017 NBA Draft might not only be one of the most memorable drafts in recent memory, but also its most unpredictable.
The depth of talent in offer at the top of the draft board is almost reminiscent of the famed 2003 draft class of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, etc. That’s part of the reason why the Boston Celtics, who won the draft lottery earlier this month, decided to trade down from the No. 1 overall pick in a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, who now own the No. 1 selection and will almost certainly select University of Washington shooting guard Markelle Fultz.
The Los Angeles Lakers also decided to do some pre-draft dealing, sending 2015 No. 2 overall selection DeAngelo Russell and Timofey Mozgov to the Brooklyn Nets for big man Brook Lopez and a draft pick. With Russell out of the way, it makes way for Magic Johnson to take another phenomenon of a point guard, UCLA’s Lonzo Ball, with the No. selection. We will also see if the Lakers, who are rumored to be active in trying to pull a deal with the Indiana Pacers for Paul George, pull off something dealing with that before or during the draft.
This past college basketball season, A Lot of Sports Talk got a chance to cover many of the players who will hear their names called on Thursday during our coverage of the 2016-2017 college basketball season, and, in our latest Snap Judgments gallery, we collected some of the best shots taken of all of these prospects from our photographers, senior photographer Robert Cole and California-based photographer Yasmin Vahdatpour. The gallery is broken down to three sections: players projected to go in the lottery, players projected to go later in the first round and players who might go in either the first or second round. There are 32 photos in this gallery, and, after clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures.
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